The early morning light filtered through the narrow windows of the safehouse, casting long shadows on the floor. Hana was already awake, her mind restless despite her exhaustion. She had tried to sleep, but sleep had eluded her, leaving her tangled in her thoughts. The plan Daeyoung had laid out felt daunting, and the prospect of confronting Jin Woo weighed heavily on her.

Kaito stirred beside her, groaning softly as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Can’t believe I’m up before sunrise," he muttered, his voice rough with sleep. "This is definitely not how I imagined spending my mornings."

Hana managed a faint smile. "Welcome to our world."

Kaito grunted, stretching his arms over his head. "I’ve been in this world long enough to know that mornings are never good. Especially not when you’re heading into what could be a trap."

Hana nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy. "I know it’s a lot to take in. We’ve all been through a lot, and it feels like it just keeps piling up."

Kaito ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration and weariness. "Yeah, well, I didn’t sign up for this. I wanted to get out, not keep going deeper into whatever mess we’ve found ourselves in."

Hana turned to face him, her expression serious. "None of us did. But we have to keep going. Jin Woo is out there, and he’s already consolidating power. If we don’t stop him, it could be even worse."

Kaito sighed, leaning back against the wall. "It’s just—sometimes I wonder if we’re making any difference. We take one down, and another takes their place. It feels like we’re just putting out fires without ever really solving the problem."

Before Hana could respond, Daeyoung emerged from the back room, his face set in its usual serious expression. He looked around at them, his gaze assessing. "It’s time. We need to get moving."

Hana and Kaito exchanged glances, and Kaito reluctantly pushed himself off the wall. "Right. So what’s the plan today?"

Daeyoung grabbed his coat and slipped it on, moving with a practiced efficiency. "We’re going to hit Jin Woo’s supply lines. We need to disrupt his operations and make it harder for him to maintain control."

Hana stood, shaking off her lingering fatigue. "And how do we find these supply lines?"

Daeyoung handed them each a dossier, his expression unreadable. "I’ve got some intel from my contacts. They’ve pinpointed several key locations where Jin Woo is stockpiling resources and equipment. We’ll need to hit multiple sites to make a significant impact."

Kaito took the dossier and flipped it open, scanning the pages with a critical eye. "Looks like we’ve got a busy day ahead. Any specific orders for how we should handle this?"

Daeyoung nodded. "We’ll split up. Hana, you and I will take the primary location. Kaito, you handle the secondary targets. We need to create as much chaos as possible without getting caught."

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Splitting up? That’s risky. If something goes wrong..."

"It’s the best way to cover more ground," Daeyoung interrupted, his voice firm. "We can’t afford to waste time. Jin Woo will be expecting retaliation, so we need to strike fast and hard."

Hana could see the logic in Daeyoung’s plan, but she also understood Kaito’s concern. "What’s the backup plan if things go south? We need to make sure we have a way to regroup."

Daeyoung’s gaze was steely. "We have a signal system. If anything goes wrong, use the emergency code. We’ll rendezvous at the safehouse if we need to regroup. But we have to assume the worst."

Kaito looked up from the dossier, his expression serious. "Alright. But let’s hope we don’t need to use that code."

The trio made their way out of the safehouse, their footsteps muffled by the early morning fog. Hana’s nerves were on edge, a familiar sensation that had become almost second nature over the past few months. They had faced danger before, but there was something different about this mission. Jin Woo was a wildcard, and they had no way of knowing what kind of resistance they would face.

As they approached their vehicles, Hana glanced over at Daeyoung. "What do we know about Jin Woo’s security? Any specific threats we should be aware of?"

Daeyoung shook his head. "Not much. He’s been keeping a low profile, so his security is likely tight but not over-the-top. Expect some armed guards, surveillance equipment, and maybe traps. The usual."

Kaito got into his car, looking back at them through the open door. "I’ll be on my way. I’ll check in once I’ve hit my targets."

Hana watched him drive off, then turned to Daeyoung. "Ready?"

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Daeyoung nodded. "Let’s go. We have a lot to do."

The drive to the primary location was tense but uneventful. Hana glanced at Daeyoung, who was focused on the road ahead. The quiet between them was filled with unspoken thoughts. Hana could sense that Daeyoung was just as apprehensive as she was, though he hid it well.

"How did you get into this line of work?" Hana asked suddenly, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Daeyoung flicked his gaze toward her, then back to the road. "It’s a long story. The short version is that I was a detective before all this. Got caught up in something bigger than I expected. Now, here I am."

Hana raised an eyebrow. "A detective? That explains a lot."

Daeyoung’s lips twitched into a brief, wry smile. "You could say that. I’ve seen my fair share of things, but this... this is different."

"Different how?" Hana pressed.

Daeyoung’s gaze hardened, a shadow crossing his face. "This isn’t just about solving crimes. It’s about survival, about making choices that could endanger everything. It’s messy and dangerous, and it doesn’t always have a clear end."

Hana nodded, absorbing his words. "Sounds like you’ve been through a lot."

"You could say that," Daeyoung replied, his tone clipped. "But we don’t have time for personal stories right now. We need to focus on the mission."

Hana understood the need to stay focused but couldn’t shake the feeling that Daeyoung’s past was more complicated than he let on. Still, she respected his need for privacy and turned her attention back to the task at hand.

When they arrived at the primary location, a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Daeyoung parked the car a safe distance away. He and Hana approached the building cautiously, their senses on high alert. The area was quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirp of birds. It was an almost eerie calm, a stark contrast to the chaos they were about to unleash.

Daeyoung pulled out a set of binoculars and surveyed the warehouse from a distance. "There are a few guards posted. Looks like they’re on high alert, probably expecting us."

Hana took the binoculars and scanned the perimeter. "How do you want to approach this?"

Daeyoung considered the options, his mind working quickly. "We’ll need to be stealthy. Get in, plant the charges, and get out before they realize what’s happening. I’ll take the north side; you cover the south."

Hana nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Understood. Let’s do this."

They moved into position, their steps light and careful. Hana crept along the side of the warehouse, her eyes scanning for any signs of movement. The guards were patrolling in a predictable pattern, and Hana took advantage of their routine to slip past undetected.

As she reached the south side of the building, she pulled out the small, portable explosive charges Daeyoung had given her. Her hands were steady as she planted them in strategic locations around the warehouse, making sure they were well-hidden. Every noise seemed amplified in the quiet, and Hana’s ears were tuned to the faintest sounds of movement.

Once the charges were set, Hana signaled Daeyoung with a quick flash of her flashlight. He responded with a nod, and they both moved back to their respective positions. Hana made her way back to the rendezvous point, her pulse racing with anticipation.

When Daeyoung joined her, his expression was tense but determined. "Charges are set. Let’s get out of here before they find us."

They retraced their steps carefully, slipping back into the car and driving away from the warehouse. Hana glanced back at the building, her mind already focused on the next part of their plan. The operation had gone smoothly, but they were far from done.

As they made their way to the safehouse, Daeyoung’s phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it and frowned. "We’ve got a situation. Kaito’s hit a snag with his targets. He needs backup."

Hana’s heart sank. "What happened?"

Daeyoung’s expression was grim. "We don’t know yet. But we need to get to him quickly. He’s in danger."

The drive to Kaito’s location was frantic, Hana’s mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a harsh light over the city as they navigated the streets. Every traffic light, every delay seemed to stretch time, adding to the urgency of their mission.

When they finally arrived at Kaito’s last known location,

a small industrial complex, they found the area in chaos. Smoke was billowing from several buildings, and the sounds of gunfire and shouting filled the air. Hana’s heart pounded as she scanned the scene, trying to spot Kaito amidst the turmoil.

Daeyoung’s voice was calm but urgent as he spoke into his radio. "Kaito, where are you?"

There was a crackle of static before Kaito’s voice came through, strained but clear. "I’m pinned down at the south end of the complex. Need immediate backup."

Hana and Daeyoung raced toward the south end, their weapons at the ready. The scene was a war zone, with scattered debris and damaged vehicles littering the area. Hana ducked behind cover, her eyes scanning for any sign of Kaito.

Finally, she spotted him, crouched behind a large crate, his expression tense as he fired at the approaching enemies. Hana didn’t hesitate. She sprang into action, moving with practiced precision as she took out several of the attackers. Daeyoung followed close behind, providing cover as they advanced.

Kaito looked up, relief washing over his face when he saw them. "Took you long enough."

Hana shot him a wry look as she continued to fire. "Just be glad we got here at all."

They fought their way through the remaining enemies, their movements coordinated and efficient. Hana could feel the adrenaline surging through her, heightening her senses and making every second count. The battle was intense, but they managed to push through and neutralize the threat.

When the area finally quieted, Hana took a deep breath, her heart still racing. Kaito was crouched beside her, catching his breath. "Thanks for the save."

Hana nodded, her expression serious. "Just doing what we had to. Are you okay?"

Kaito gave a strained nod. "Yeah, just a few close calls. But we got the job done."

Daeyoung joined them, his face set in a grim expression. "We need to get out of here before reinforcements arrive. Let’s regroup and assess the damage."

They made their way back to the safehouse, their bodies weary but their spirits determined. The mission had been fraught with challenges, but they had managed to make an impact. The road ahead was still uncertain, but for now, they had succeeded in disrupting Jin Woo’s operations.

As they settled back into the safehouse, Hana couldn’t shake the feeling that they were just beginning to unravel a much larger and more dangerous web. The stakes were higher than ever, and their fight was far from over.